Power 97 Winnipeg flips format, keeps name
Corus Entertainment announced Tuesday the station will now play the greatest new wave, grunge, and classic alternative hits.
“We are tremendously excited to re-imagine a legacy station like Power 97 with this unique and appealing format,” said Dustin Collins, program director at Corus Audio, in a release. “Iconic Alternative captures three decades of music that has been a formative soundtrack for the lives of many Winnipeggers, and I am stoked to be on this ride with listeners!”
This move means that there are two Iconic Alternative formats that Corus operates. On July 31st Corus brought music back to 107.3 in Calgary with Edge, which is the first Iconic Alternative format.
The new Power does feature some programming changes. The morning show of Jay and Vicki is no more. Vicki Shae will slide up the dial to Country 99, while Jay Richardson goes solo in the mornings. Midday host Dan Chen is no longer heard in Winnipeg but will keep his Q107 Toronto show. Afternoons with Ed and Lex have been split up. Ed is the afternoon show host and Lex will be heard middays replacing Dan. Fearless Fred will continue to be heard in the evenings.
“The Ongoing History of New Music” host Alan Cross will serve as “ambassador” for the station with his show airing on Sundays and Tuesdays.
As a side note, I am currently listening to Power and I have already enjoyed the format in Calgary but there are no show hosts in Calgary, but there are in Winnipeg. It sounds nicer hearing hosts on air.
This format change happening now I believe is because there are rumors that Now radio may change format as early as this week, to become an Alternative station. Possibly formatted similar to The Peak Vancouver.